Subsidiary Debt - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 35,376
Long-term Debt		35,193	$ 36,116
Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		26,210	26,748
Subsidiary Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		28,780
Other Long-term Debt, Current		2,431	606
Other Long-term Debt, Noncurrent		26,210	26,748
Other long-term debt		28,641	27,354
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		800
Other long-term debt		796	990
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[1]	2,792
Other long-term debt		2,805	2,379
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Renewables [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		3,636
Other long-term debt		3,594	3,674
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		7,061
Other long-term debt		7,025	7,079
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages		27,000
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		5,319
Other long-term debt		5,259	4,592
Subsidiary Debt [Member] | HomeServices [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		247
Other long-term debt		247	0
Letters of credit supporting tax-exempt bond obligations [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 216	$ 255
Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate		1.87%	0.86%
Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate		1.60%	0.69%
PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 7,005	$ 7,052
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages		27,000
PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		7,061
Other long-term debt		7,025	7,079
PacifiCorp [Member] | Letters of credit supporting tax-exempt bond obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		216	255
MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		240	326
MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		5,080
Other long-term debt		5,043	4,301
Eligible Property Subject To Lien Of Mortgages		16,000
European Investment Bank loan, 2.073%, due 2025 [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | Northern Powergrid Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[1]	68
Other long-term debt		$ 69	$ 62
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.073%	2.073%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2021 To 2025 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.53%	8.53%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2021 To 2025 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.95%	2.95%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2018 Through 2022 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 1,875
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2018 Through 2022 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 1,872	$ 1,872
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2018 Through 2022 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.53%	8.53%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.53%, Due 2018 Through 2022 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.85%	3.85%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.23%	8.23%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.95%	2.95%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 1,224
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 1,218	$ 1,217
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.27%	8.27%
First Mortgage Bonds, 2.95% To 8.23%, Due 2023 To 2026 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.95%	2.95%
First Mortgage Bonds, 7.70%, Due 2031 [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		7.70%	7.70%
First Mortgage Bonds, 7.70%, Due 2031 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 300
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		7.70%	7.70%
First Mortgage Bonds, 7.70%, Due 2031 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 298	$ 298
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.25%	6.25%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.25%	5.25%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 2,050
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 2,040	$ 2,039
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.10%	6.10%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.25% To 6.10%, Due 2034 to 2036 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.25%	5.25%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.35%	6.35%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.10%	4.10%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 1,250
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 1,236	$ 1,235
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.35%	6.35%
First Mortgage Bonds, 5.75% To 6.35%, Due 2037 To 2039 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.75%	5.75%
Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate series, due 2017 to 2018 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 79
Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate series, due 2017 to 2018 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		79	$ 91
Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate series, due 2018 to 2025 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[2]	70
Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate series, due 2018 to 2025 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	[2]	70	108
Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series due 2024 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[2],[3]	143
Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series due 2024 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	[2],[3]	142	142
Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series due 2024 to 2025 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value	[3]	50
Variable-rate tax-exempt obligation series due 2024 to 2025 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	[3]	$ 50	$ 50
Capital Lease Obligations, 8.75% To 14.61%, Due Through 2035 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		14.61%	14.61%
Capital Lease Obligations, 8.75% To 14.61%, Due Through 2035 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.75%	8.75%
Capital Lease Obligations, 8.75% To 14.61%, Due Through 2035 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations		$ 20	$ 27
Capital Lease Obligations, 8.75% To 14.61%, Due Through 2035 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		14.61%	14.61%
Capital Lease Obligations, 8.75% To 14.61%, Due Through 2035 [Member] | PacifiCorp [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		8.75%	8.75%
Senior Notes, 6.927%, due 2029 [Member] | MidAmerican Funding LLC [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 239
Other long-term debt		$ 216	$ 291
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.927%	6.927%
Tax-exempt bond obligations, variable rate, due 2016-2046 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate		1.91%	0.76%
Par value		$ 370
Other long-term debt		368	$ 219
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 2.40%, Due March 2019 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		500
Other long-term debt		$ 499	$ 499
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.40%	2.40%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.70%, Due September 2023 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 250
Other long-term debt		$ 248	$ 248
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.70%	3.70%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.50%, Due October 2024 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 500
Other long-term debt		$ 501	$ 501
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.50%	3.50%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.10%, Due May 2027 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 375
Other long-term debt		$ 372	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.10%	3.10%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.80%, Due September 2043 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 350
Other long-term debt		$ 346	$ 345
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.80%	4.80%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.40%, Due October 2044 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 400
Other long-term debt		$ 394	$ 394
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.40%	4.40%
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 4.25%, Due May 2046 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 450
Other long-term debt		$ 445	$ 445
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.25%	4.25%
MEC Notes, 5.95% Series, due 2017 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 0
Other long-term debt		$ 0	$ 250
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.95%	5.95%
MEC Notes, 6.75% Series, due 2031 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 400
Other long-term debt		$ 396	$ 396
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%	6.75%
MEC Notes, 5.75% Series, due 2035 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 300
Other long-term debt		$ 298	$ 298
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.75%	5.75%
MEC Notes, 5.8% Series, due 2036 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 350
Other long-term debt		$ 348	$ 347
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.80%	5.80%
MEC Notes, 5.3% Series, due 2018 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 350
Other long-term debt		$ 350	$ 350
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.30%	5.30%
MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 8
Other long-term debt		$ 6	$ 7
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied			4.45%
MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		4.45%
MEC Transmission Upgrade Obligations, 4.45% and 3.42% Due Through 2035 and 2036 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		3.42%
Capital Lease Obligations, 4.16%, Due Through 2020 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 2
Other long-term debt		2	$ 2
MEC First Mortgage Bonds, 3.95%, Due 2047 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		475
Other long-term debt		$ 470	$ 0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.95%	3.95%
Secured Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Par value		$ 180
Capital Lease Obligations, 4.16%, Due Through 2020 [Member] | MidAmerican Energy Company [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | MidAmerican Funding [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Vendor Financing, Discount Rate Applied		4.16%	4.16%
Kern River [Member] | Senior Notes, 4.893%, due 2018 [Member] | Subsidiary Debt [Member] | BHE Pipeline Group [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.893%	4.893%

[1] (1)The par values for these debt instruments are denominated in sterling.

[2] Supported by $216 million and $255 million of fully available letters of credit issued under committed bank arrangements as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

[3] Secured by pledged first mortgage bonds registered to and held by the tax-exempt bond trustee generally with the same interest rates, maturity dates and redemption provisions as the tax-exempt bond obligations.